The evening world., 1887-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN THE HOSPITAL.
1T A PAuPRR INNATE.
Merry Chriatmasi Heref

Hold down, with PROSTATE, aching body, for
many weary months, o bed sack In o hospital for
the destitute, until, with spinal column worn
away, your department Of tho interior In utter dis
organization; the knots OF matted straw are GRIND
ing away at the under side OF your breast-bone,
and, Of course, you're "merry |"
In this yet dim light Of early Christmas morn, see
that ghost Of fever and famine combined stretched
on the next cot; eyes glazed, claw-nDgers picking
at the torn blankets. A merry sight, isn't ~ Grim
Death o%huckles; It's his moat
Listen to that fellow on the opposite bed In q
strait-jacket, raving prayers and curses. A
smashed skull, stryohnine aud whiskey make him
merry.
See Little Billy" all warped and twisted. He
goes to the Aims house next week; no place else
on earth for him. A merry thought In his Christ
mas turkey. eh7
Dry bread aud slop coffee breakfast; tnen the
doctors. Sawbones, sr. IL q pleasant man. He
does his best for a fellow. sawbones, IT., mental
weight ak ounces 10 the pound, wears eyeglasses,
pimples, Waterbury watch and an air Of super
natural wisdom. lie has calculated on making his
nrst postmortem on your cadaver and highly dis
approves Of your pr, sumption in still living. The
patients are dosed literally aud experimentally In
the interests OF science and education. Sucking
surgeons and prentice BARRIERS must practise on
somebody, you know.
It's cold In the ward-cold with the zero friRidity
OF provcrbial charity, and you snugale under tho
bed covers, while those patients out and about
shufre around and try to warm up by exercise. A
jolly crowd this.
Visitors arrive; wives looking 90 III and oven
more miserable than the men whom they visit;
babies In arms Of course, and often n tottering
chick hanging to the skirts. kThese make lively
family parties. awfully lively. The shadow Of un-
paid rent enlivens them.
"Chipper" young girls como to SEQ "the old
man" or some "foller.n These are high-hat,ed,
bedecked with cheap gauds and profuse OF nufry
bangs; but their footwear and general rig are as
dilapidated as Jake sharp's reputation. They
chew gum and MUNICH candy, and are gay with the
giggles OF semi-idiocy. Tough lads are here also,
In q degree subdued by the restrictions against
l%oudness, profanity and indiscriminate distribution
Of tobacco-juice. They '.don't see no Christmas
racket bout here
There Ia one dear, pale, white-haired little
woman, with a smile that makes your heart sick.
She hurries to a cot In the corner. "Pappy " "a
there, her Congratulated, patent husband, whom
she loves to-day with the same proud tenderness
that filled her heart long ago, when both were
young and strong and happy. ''Pappy was rich
once, and she had diamonds and carriages. Well,
the bank cashier has the wealth now In Canada.
The frail wife tries to wear u Christmas face, tries
to joke a little, and from her pocket brings a few
little dainties which she starved herself to buy for
him, and he makes q brave effort to be bright once
more. But soon they are silent; hand in hand
they remain In the quiet of content or despair. II
God in his mercy would this moment call these
twin souls into the world beyond, surely then
theirs would be Q Merry Cnristnias.
But its dinner-time now for the feast. OutsiderB
must get outside. Two big kettles are carried In,
the turkey has been roasted by towing, and Il 10
carved and served with a big tin dipper. These
are q peculiar breed Of turkeys; thirty-eight men
are furnished, yet no part of turkey anatomy
appears save wings and legs. This Ia q popularity
OF charity turkeys. But there Is plenty to satisfy
those who eat and those who gorge, and no atom
is left. In a week or two, may be, youll see to-
morrow's paper with o list OF the many good things
provided for your feast Youn see all you didn't
get-in the paper.
OF course there has been praying and sermoniz-
Ing, but pudding and sauce would have caught on
better ; and there are other Incidents, but IN the
rioIous festivities Of the day how can one recall
allr
The dishes are washed, the moor swept the
nurse comes in and serves pills or connections all
around az q relish; and then the fight against cold,
and the growing and the misery, the sickness Of
body, mind and soul, that IL the lot Of every COM
mon day, take possession Of each, and Christmas
for the pauper PATIENTS over.